Brazil coach Menezes sacked ahead of 2014 World Cup

Mano Menezes has been relieved of his duties by the Brazilian Football Association ahead of the 2014 World Cup.

Story highlights

Brazil has fired coach Mano Menezes with immediate effect

Menezes has been under fire since Olympics failure

South American country is set to host World Cup in 2014

Brazil will appoint new coach in January according to officials

Just under two years before hosting the World Cup, Brazil sacked coach Mano Menezes as the South American country signaled a change of direction in its quest for unprecedented sixth title.

Menezes had hoped to lead Brazil to victory on home soil but his failure to win over his critics with his muscular type of play appears to have cost him.

The 50-year-old, who replaced the legendary Dunga following the 2010 World Cup, had come under heavy scrutiny following his side's failure to win a historic first Olympic gold at London 2012 -- losing in the final to Mexico despite fielding a star-studded line-up.

The news was greeted with joy by former Brazil striker and World Cup winner Romario,.

"Today is a historic day, Brazil needs to celebrate,'' Romario said on his Facebook page. "Finally the federation did something good for Brazilian football. It took a while to happen, but it did.''

Brazil also failed to deliver at the 2011 Copa America, bowing out at the quarterfinal stage.

"As it has been announced, I'm not the national coach anymore," Menezes wrote on Twitter.

"My thanks to all the people who worked with me on this project, specially the players that were called up during this period and all those who believed in our work."

JUST WATCHED

A day in the life of Cristiano Ronaldo

MUST WATCH

A day in the life of Cristiano Ronaldo 00:58

PLAY VIDEO

Roberto Di Matteo's time at Chelsea 5 photos

Roberto Di Matteo's time at Chelsea5 photos

Standing alone – Roberto Di Matteo's tenure as Chelsea manager came to an end after Tuesday's 3-0 defeat to Juventus. Di Matteo was sacked despite leading Chelsea to European Champions League and English FA Cup glory just six months earlier.

Hide Caption

1 of 5

Roberto Di Matteo's time at Chelsea5 photos

AVB's No. 2 – Di Matteo enjoyed a successful playing career at Chelsea in the 1990s before returning to the club as Andre Villas-Boas' assistant manager in 2011. He took interim charge of the team following Villas-Boas' sacking in March this year.

Hide Caption

2 of 5

Roberto Di Matteo's time at Chelsea5 photos

Up for the cup – After beating Tottenham Hotspur in the semfinals, Di Matteo led Chelsea to an FA Cup triumph by beating Liverpool 2-1 in the final.

Hide Caption

3 of 5

Roberto Di Matteo's time at Chelsea5 photos

History boys – Di Matteo's crowning glory came in May, when Chelsea defeated Bayern Munich on penalities to win the European Champions League. The historic success, Chelsea's first in the competition, was one of the reasons why club owner Roman Abramovich gave Di Matteo the manager's job on a full-time basis.

Hide Caption

4 of 5

Roberto Di Matteo's time at Chelsea5 photos

Falcao fires – Chelsea suffered a set back early in the 2012-13 season when a Radamel Falcao-inspired Atletico Madrid beat Di Matteo's team 4-1 in the European Super Cup final.

Hide Caption

5 of 5

EXPAND GALLERY

The career of David Beckham 13 photos

The career of David Beckham13 photos

The career of David Beckham – David Beckham made an immediate impact at Paris Saint-Germain, with victories in his first two appearances against French rivals Marseille.

Hide Caption

1 of 13

The career of David Beckham13 photos

Paris plan – He was unveiled at the Parc des Princes on the final day of the January 2013 transfer window, and announced that he will donate the pay he receives during his five-month contract to a children's charity in Paris.

Hide Caption

2 of 13

The career of David Beckham13 photos

Leaving LA – Beckham celebrated his second MLS Cup success with Los Angeles Galaxy in December 2012, when he decided to leave with a year left on his contract as he sought one final career challenge in Europe.

Hide Caption

3 of 13

The career of David Beckham13 photos

On the rise – David Beckham made his debut for English Premier League team Manchester United in 1993. By 1996, the midfielder was becoming renowned for his ability to score and create goals with his now legendary right foot. In a match against Wimbledon, Beckham stunned football fans by scoring from the halfway line.

Hide Caption

4 of 13

The career of David Beckham13 photos

Red mist – Beckham swiftly progressed into the England team and was part of Glenn Hoddle's squad for the 1998 World Cup in France. In a second-round match against Argentina, Beckham was sent off for kicking out at Diego Simeone. England lost the match on penalties and were eliminated, with Beckham becoming a hate figure for some fans.

Hide Caption

5 of 13

The career of David Beckham13 photos

Treble – Beckham rebuilt his reputation and in 1999 was a key part of the Manchester United team which became the first English club to win the Premier League, FA Cup and European Champions League in the same season. The Old Trafford side, led by Alex Ferguson, secured the treble thanks to a stunning late comeback against Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.

Hide Caption

6 of 13

The career of David Beckham13 photos

Redemption – Beckham's redemption was complete in 2000, when caretaker England manager Peter Taylor made him captain of the national team. He retained the role under Sven-Goran Eriksson, leading England at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups and the 2004 European Championships.

Hide Caption

7 of 13

The career of David Beckham13 photos

Beckham's Real deal – In 2003, after a turbulent final few months at United which involved Ferguson accidentally kicking a boot at Beckham, he joined Real Madrid's "Galacticos".

Hide Caption

8 of 13

The career of David Beckham13 photos

Golden goodbye – But Beckham's spell in Madrid didn't produce the trophy rush he had hoped for. His sole title came in 2007, under future England manager Fabio Capello, thanks to a win against Real Mallorca on the final day of the season.

Hide Caption

9 of 13

The career of David Beckham13 photos

Reborn in the USA – Beckham made the switch to Los Angeles Galaxy in the U.S.'s Major League Soccer in 2007. His stated aim was to raise the profile of soccer in the country.

Hide Caption

10 of 13

The career of David Beckham13 photos

Glory with Galaxy – Four years after heading to the States, Beckham finally won the MLS Cup with Galaxy last season. Galaxy beat Houston Dynamo 1-0 in the final thanks to a goal from Landon Donovan.

Hide Caption

11 of 13

The career of David Beckham13 photos

Posh and Becks – Off the pitch, Beckham is famous for being one half of one of the world's most high-profile couples. He started dating Victoria Adams of British pop group Spice Girls in 1997. The pair married in 1999 and have four children, son Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz and daughter Harper Seven.

Hide Caption

12 of 13

The career of David Beckham13 photos

London lad – Football fans wear masks depicting Beckham at the London 2012 Olympics. He was not picked for the GB team, but played a big role in his hometown being awarded the Games.

Hide Caption

13 of 13

EXPAND GALLERY

Menezes was often criticized for his side's style of play with fans yearning to a return to the "joga bonito" ('beautiful game") style for which Brazil teams are so well known.

Whereas past sides, most notably that of 1970, were known for their flair and skill, Menezes' side was more functional than entertaining.

Although his team won six of its eight matches since the Olympics, with 26 goals coming in the process, Menezes struggled to justify his switch away from the freeflowing, samba-style football associated with Brazil.

But the decision came as a surprise with Brazil slowly beginning to look more impressive with several key players returning to form.

The attacking trio of Oscar, Neymar and Hulk provided a real threat, while Ramires and Paulinho had recently shone in the center of midfield.

The form of Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva and the return to the side of Real Madrid's Kaka had looked to have given Brazil a new found lease of life.

But after a difficult reign, Menezes was relieved of his duties following talks with CBF president Jose Maria Marin.